MDC-T Byo in turmoil

FRESH turmoil has rocked MDC-T Bulawayo province as factions jostle to
replace the provincial women’s assembly chairperson, Senator Gladys Gombami
who died late last year.
The new clashes follow on the heels of simmering tensions rocking the MDC-T-
controlled Bulawayo City Council where councillor Nduna Dlala defected to
the MDC led by Welshman Ncube while four others are likely to jump ship.

MDC-T insiders said a fresh struggle had erupted between the party’s
Bulawayo provincial chairman Gorden Moyo and his longstanding rival
Mzilikazi senator Mattson Hlalo over the person to replace Gombami.

Daggers have already been drawn and the factional battle is expected to
escalate in coming weeks.

Hlalo’s faction has kicked off a campaign for its preferred candidate Dorcas
Nyoni while Moyo’s group is set to field Jennifer Kawona. Bulawayo Central
MP and the party’s provincial vice-chairperson Dorcas Sibanda also wants the
post for herself since it wields more influence than her current ceremonial
post.

“The women’s assembly is a huge constituency and determines voting patterns,
that’s why factional wars have re-emerged,” said a source close to the
goings on.

It has also emerged that Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe, a close Moyo
associate, has been sucked into the nasty intra-party clashes after she
intervened to stop Kawona from contesting.

“Khupe and her allies are planning to choose another candidate but it’s not
yet clear who is favoured. However, behind-the-scenes campaigning is raging
in the province,” said the source.

Moyo and Hlalo were last year involved in running battles in the run-up to
the party’s provincial elective conference.